First prize in this lottery: Health Insurance

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon is conducting a one-of-a-kind lottery, and the prize is health insurance. The state will start drawing names this week for the chance to enroll in a health care program designed for people not poor enough for Medicaid but too cash-strapped to buy their own insurance.

I get calls nearly every day from people who would sign up for such a lottery: too poor for their own health insurance but not poor enough for Medicaid.

In the months between the time my last job ended in 2004 and my benefits kicked in at the Times Union, I was offered the chance to continue my health insurance (which also covered my wife) through COBRA. The cost? About $650 a month. At the time, that was more than a week’s take-home pay (what, did you think journalists made as much as state workers?) My solution — I made sure my seat belt was buckled, I took my vitamins, and washed my hands. Fortunately, I was in my 20s and healthy.

There are so many people out there right now in the same situation that Oregon is raffling off the chance to pay for decent health insurance. That’s just gross.

One Response

There are 3 industries in this country who are priced beyond
the reach of most Americans: lawyers for legal services, and
healthcare (including dental) for day to day treatment plans,
and fuel. Usury is a common law doctrine which is almost never enforced in this state: excessive billing for needed services.

All 3 need legislative controls, and all 3 should start
the process right now of having low income plans to assist
those who are completely priced out of the market. Veterans
are being “litigated” every day by the VA in their disabilty
claims, and not even Social Services provides lawyers for them.
Adolph Hitler would love to live in New York. It’s a dictators
dream come true. People in this country are completely oblivion
about what waits for them outside of the workplace if
something unexpected disrupts their lives. There is NO
safety net for those who play by the rules.